It is the Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything. The Ultimate Question itself remains unknown.

Yet another October 2 has dawned and yes, it is my birthday all over again. A year older, some wiser, a great deal lazier, some worse for the wear, only 3 lbs lighter than last year but a lot more fit and as crazy as ever! But do I know where I am headed? Like The Ultimate Question, this too remains elusive.

circa 1974

The picture above is probably older or almost as old as many of you reading this post. I tried to do a face merge - now and then - but the face I currently sport is rather too wide and it took away from the absolute awesomeness of what used to be my cuteness.

There's no need to calculate - I'll tell you.

I was 7 years old in that picture.

It is over 35 years old.

Why, yes! I am 42 years old today.

My husband had to ask me how old I was today. All I could think was Wow! have we really been married that long? At least he knew my birth year but he needed to do a little bit of subtraction across two centuries. Little Ms. M did not need to be reminded. She did not hesitate to tell me that I might be a little kinda old because some of her friends have parents who are in their late 20s, I kid you not!

For most Indians, my birthday is difficult to forget because I share it with he-who-shall-remain-unnamed. If you refer to him by name, by nickname, by a reference whether oblique, crooked or straight, your comment shall be deleted immediately. I will also never ever visit your blog nor will I hit refresh a few times after clicking through to arbitrary pages on your blog, in order to increase your hits, page views and, OMG, depth of visit. Instead, your bounce rate shall increase and I will compete with you in your SEO efforts, keyword for keyword, banishing you to the third page in Google's SERPs, which we all know never meets pixels on anyone's screens. As for your PageRank (don't you know? it's everything!), well, let's just say: Your PageRank Are Belong To Me. You stand adequately warned.

With that out of the way, shall we celebrate a little bit here? It would be nice to have a wild virtual party because our IRL celebration is going to be a little subdued. Medha is recovering from a week of being ill with a bad cough, a cold and a fever. She has missed school all of this week and while she might be well enough to go back to school tomorrow, her coughing fits are rather scary and make me want to keep her at home. One more day of rest will only do her good but that's a decision we shall make when the sun comes up over the horizon.

So bring out the bubbly in my honor, dim the lights a bit, turn the music up - please, no Delilah but some 80's dance and disco music would be really nice!

GAWD!! You know how to scare the hell outta someone - but it's a very important day today it is the GRAND MP BIRTH-DAY! You were adorable back then - err - are certainly cute today! (she's gonna kill me for using cute to describe her) The truth is that you ROCK and hope you have a blast today even if you have to share your Birthday with some other fellow! ;o)

Oh my dear! Wishing you a hap hap happy b'day ! (Sing along) And to be frank you haven't lost many of the innocence, charm etc from that photgraph. You ae lovely and as crazy you could be! A 1000 hugs dear! Today's my dear friend's b'day too which I never forget because of "this" day! Wishing you good health, love and affection for another million years! Have a great day!

Honestly dear, I was so confused by the threat here and then the threat on the FB page and now I understand. Well - HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Since everything is so ridiculously busy right now, why don't you and I remember to celebrate our 6 mo bdays together come March/April? :) I'm so happy you are 42 and I am also so happy that you are my friend and a part of my life. Love you. xxoo

The Ultimate Question, Geez, does anyone know the answer to that one? But if just life in general or writing a post a day for a month every year is not enough, the question will keep you busy for the next 42 years. And that, Dear Girl is a very good thing!

Considering that my blog is in limbo, you dare and threats are very tempting, but I will refrain from mentioning the one who shall not be named. And that, my friend, is my contribution to you party. Meanwhile, dont stop the music. Go , Manisha!!

I have been a longtime lurker on your blog. What broke me? Hitchhiker's Guide reference AND it's your birthday. How can I not comment now? I wish you a very happy one and hopefully the mice had a good time observing you and learned a few things (definitely some pointers about Indian food cooking) in the process. (Sorry for the overkill, I'm a huge Douglas Adams nerd). Happy Birthday!!

Happy B'day Manisha! Hope the day was fun, relaxing and full of masti! Medha has taken so much after you, the smile is so similar! Very lovely! Sometimes when i look at the mirror and see my smile, it reminds me of Mom, and it is one of the most heart-warming and cozy feelings, ever!

I just about found your blog..duh! right..i must have been living under a rock..but had to come back and say a few words. My husband also shares the same view as you when it comes to he who shall not be named. It doesn't help that his mother's maiden surname is shared by he who will never be named in my household.

I share the same birth month, only 20 days after you and 12 yrs after you.

Really love the way you write. Its impossible not to love your content, your ideas and your views. p.s could I add you on face book. I can't seem to find you though...